The number of discernible colors in natural scenes
JOSA A, Vol. 25, Issue 12, pp. 2918-2924 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.25.002918
Enhanced HTML 
Acrobat PDF (1121 KB)
Abstract
The number of colors discernible by normal trichromats has been estimated for the idealized object-color solid. How well these estimates apply to natural scenes is an open question, as it is unknown how much their colors approach the theoretical limits. The aim of this work was to estimate the number of discernible colors based on a database of hyperspectral images of 50 natural scenes. The color volume of each scene was computed in the CIELAB color space and was analyzed using the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula. It was found that the color volume of the set of natural scenes was about 30% of the theoretical maximum for the full object-color solid, and it corresponded to a number of about 2.3 million discernible colors. Moreover, when the lightness dimension was ignored, only about 26,000 (1%) could be perceived as different colors. These results suggest that natural stimuli may be more constrained than expected from the analysis of the theoretical limits.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(330.1690) Vision, color, and visual optics : Color
(330.1720) Vision, color, and visual optics : Color vision
(330.6180) Vision, color, and visual optics : Spectral discrimination
ToC Category:
Vision, Color, and Visual Optics
History
Original Manuscript: December 21, 2007
Revised Manuscript: September 10, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: September 21, 2008
Published: November 4, 2008
Virtual Issues
Vol. 4, Iss. 2 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics
Citation
João Manuel Maciel Linhares, Paulo Daniel Pinto, and Sérgio Miguel Cardoso Nascimento, "The number of discernible colors in natural scenes," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 25, 2918-2924 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/vjbo/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-25-12-2918
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
Related Journal Articles 
- Age-related changes in wavelength discrimination (JOSAA)
- Chromatic parameters derived from increment spectral sensitivity functions (JOSAA)
- Color rendering of art paintings under CIE illuminants for normal and color deficient observers (JOSAA)
- The prior statistics of object colors (JOSAA)
- Bar-like S-cone stimuli reveal the importance of an intermediate temporal filter (JOSAA)
Related Conference Papers
- White Light Emissions from Complex Core-Shell Nanoparticles
- OSA Rochester Section Optics Suitcase: a forty-minute middle school outreach program for the cost of a postage stamp
- Color rendering techniques applied to the study of butterflies wings
- Multilayer coatings on glass for painting protection and optimized color rendering
- Improving color vision for color deficient patients on video displays
« Previous Article | Next Article »
OSA is a member of 